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You May Be King Of The Squirrels If . . .
Wow . . . seems a few folks out there aren’t quite getting what it means to be King Of The Squirrels. My buddy
Kyle McFarlin summed it up with his question:
> Hey, I loved King of the Squirrels: what actually does the phrase ‘king of the squirrels’ mean?
Well, all of you got me thinking ever since I read this and days later, I still haven’t come up with a good, cogent definition I’m happy with.
Insufficiently, I’ll just say it’s a thought experiment that reveals the thinking behind the behavior.
To be or to call someone “King Of the Squirrels” (KOTS) is a metaphoric way of saying that person has missed the point, made a mistake and did so pretty deliberately.
I mean, they had a choice and they made the wrong one, but due to pride, arrogance or just good old-fashion stupidity (or the trifecta all three) – they make the KOTS choice and stick with it.
The basic question is always asked like this: “Would you rather have a million dollars or be King Of The Squirrels?”
Then sit back and listen to what they say. It’s always educational so let me draw you the picture.
A long time ago, when I was in the cubical farm and would sit in on key hiring decisions, I can’t count the number of times when the potential hire would stop his savvy negotiations when the employer tossed high-falutin’ titles his (or her) way.
Titles and power. And like the titles, “power” wasn’t real power, it was the illusion of it. I mean for god’s sakes, who in their right mind actually wants more responsibility?
Who in their right mind would settle for a meaningless title when they could have the bucks? Hence, the lady-or-the-tiger styled dilemma of “Would you rather have a million dollars or be King Of The Squirrels?”
Now, titles you probably get what those are, and “power” . . . well, that was having people work under them — hence the “more responsibility.”
I was amazing that it wouldn’t occur to them until 6 months into the job that they should have held out for more money because they were doing far more than they were paid to do.
But by then, they were deeply regretting not negotiating harder on salary because the “responsibility” and drudgery of managing people began to wear on them. Yes, they could have asked for more money, but no, the fancy meaningless title caught their fancy instead.
A KOTS defining moment if there every was one.
But at that point it was too late and they would have to suck it up until the next salary review.
Back to the negotiation moment, since if you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you know how closely I listen and watch everything when I’m interacting with folks. And what I’ve noticed is that, across the board, when the promise of a big title and power were put on the table — their eyes would literally glaze over for a moment.
Yes, literally glaze over.
And I knew at the point the game was lost. At least for them. And I would sit there and think, “Yep. You were offered the million dollars, but you wanted to be King Of The Squirrels, instead. Congratulations, you are now officially an idjit.”
Does that help define it?
Technorati tags: Walter Terry, ROI Copywriting, info product strategist, information marketing, king of the squirrels
By Walter |
Topics: Inside The Mind, Lessons Learned, Pet Peeves |
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:14 am
Walter,
I’m know I’ve fallen into the trap before, so I don’t want to throw stones from a glass house. Still, ever since you’ve written about it my senses have been more attuned to look for it… a lot of kings and queens out there. And it doesn’t seem like intelligence is the differentiator. The differentiators seem to be ego and maybe experience.